City gets peek at James Beard Public Market

The public will get a sneak peek at the site of the future James Beard Public Market at a Sept. 27 event in downtown Portland.

The daily year-round indoor and outdoor market, a long time in development, won approval from the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners in late June.

Now local elected leaders will help celebrate the projects kick-off, as fundraising for the nonprofit public-private partnership begins.

Market leaders have launched a capital campaign to raise at least $20 million in three years. There's a tentative opening date of 2018.

Fundraising is the last big hurdle to overcome.

The market has established a development partnership with Melvin Mark, the land at the West Morrison Bridgehead has been secured after a lengthy process, and the market has received support from city, county, state and federal officials.

On Sept. 27, the market  along with partners Melvin Mark Development and NW Natural Gas  will invite people to enjoy music and regional wines, microbrews and food from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The site is at 433 S.W. Naito Parkway.

Attendees may become a founding friend of the market and hear from speakers including Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury.

Tickets for First to Market start at $25 per person. Advance tickets are required; visit http://jamesbeardmarket.brownpapertickets.com to purchase through Sept. 25 or until sold out.

There will also be a VIP reception for donors of $250 or more, hosted by the Hotel Rose, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 50 S.W. Morrison Street.

Mayor Charlie Hales, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and representatives from the county are expected to attend; wine, beer and appetizers will be served.

We are looking forward to sharing The James Beard Public Market site with the community and launching the next step in making the market a reality, says Ron Paul, the markets executive director. The First to Market event will be an ideal way to connect Portlanders with their future market and enjoy the type of local foods and beverages the market will feature.

Set to open in the coming years, the market will showcase the states bounty while promoting community health, rural and urban economic development, neighborhood revitalization and tourism.

Portland is the only U.S. city with rights to name a market after James Beard, the citys most famous chef. The market is a project of the Historic Portland Public Market Foundation, which grew out of a citizen task force convened in 2000.